Stafford-Smith Inc. says it has provided foodservice equipment for 14 National League stadiums.

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Kalamazoo, Mich.-based foodservice equipment supplier Stafford-Smith Inc. is intentionally hush-hush about its business strategies, particularly as one of the leaders in its field. “We have a lot of competition who would love to know how we do things – they ask us constantly,” President David Stafford Jr. says.

Although discreet about much of its operations, the company, which has regional offices throughout the country, does use some of the philosophy from a book based on the Semper Fi concept – a popular Marine Corps. Philosophy – says Stafford, who has served as a Marine. “We have our regional managers read the book so they understand the philosophy and the direction we want to take the company,” Stafford explains. “It focuses a lot [on] cross-training, and that no one person is greater than the whole. It’s about team work, basically.”

The Personal Touch
Stafford says in spite of his company’s 10 locations throughout the United States, Stafford-Smith doesn’t have much infrastructure. “We have a fairly flat organizational chart,” Stafford stresses. “This allows for an open door and an open flow of ideas. It also allows people to work together.

“We’re not large, but we are a big company in regards to our industry,” he continues. “But you don’t want to take away the personal touch – the minute you do that, you distance yourself from the people that matter the most, and [those are] your fellow team members.”

Stafford says that although his company is privately held and owned, “you have to view your employees as part of your family.

“If you have three employees, you really have nine people that you are responsible for,” he explains. “For every employee, you have to consider a spouse and child. As an employer, you can’t just decide, ‘Oh, I’m going to take the day off today’ when I feel like it. No, you’ve got to work as hard as everyone else, because you have to lead by example.”

Stafford takes that concept to heart because, he says, aside from Stafford-Smiths’ buying power, its employees are its biggest asset. “Our customer service, follow-through and professionalism set us apart,” he declares. “[Our success] is not about us; it’s about the people we have on board that make it all happen.

“Our staff makes us who we are. [This is] because of their professionalism and how they go to market. We have provided the formula to them, and we bring leadership – but if we weren’t there tomorrow, it wouldn’t matter. Our employees work hard, work honestly and work with integrity, so all would flow just fine without [upper management] as a whole.”

Stafford-Smith prides itself on being ranked the 11th largest foodservice equipment supplier in the nation by Foodservice Equipment and Supplies in 2008. The publication also named the company Dealer of the Year in 2001. “[Our] purchasing power can bring [customers] a competitive bid on all types of foodservice equipment, ventilation systems, beverage distribution and dispensing systems and refrigerated storage,” Stafford states. “Our in-process work schedule has projects on a national basis. In no way is the company a regional player.

“With [10] offices in Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas and Indiana, we can bid [a customer’s] next project anywhere in the United States. Our track record speaks for itself.”

The company is preparing to work on the Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium. Stafford-Smith will complete the job in two stages, and will provide the arena with foodservice equipment as well as all of the refrigeration, beer systems hoods and counters.  It is also currently performing work for the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, as well as the Kansas City Royals’ stadium, and has just completed the Washington Nationals’ stadium in Washington, D.C.  

Stafford says his company has already worked on 14 stadiums of this caliber, which is “more National League stadiums than any [other company] in the country has done in our industry.”

Commercial Refrigeration
The company is also experienced in commercial refrigeration. “Stafford-Smith’s commercial refrigeration group offers the quality of Tyler/Carrier refrigeration and over 68 years of refrigeration systems design, installation and service experience,” the company says. “We can design and install your entire grocery chain or consult on a one department remodel.

“Our work for many Midwestern grocery and convenience chains has established our reputation as the premier commercial refrigeration group anywhere in the Midwest.”

Stafford-Smith’s technicians are EPA certified, and “can maintain [customers’] system[s] on a as-needed basis, or offer a service contract specifically designed to meet [their] needs,” Stafford states.